Biologically-Inspired Massively Parallel Architectures - computing beyond a million processors
Lead Research Organisation:
University of Manchester
Department Name: Computer Science
Abstract
The human brain remains as one of the great frontiers of science - how does this organ upon which we all depend so critically actually do its job? A great deal is known about the underlying technology - the neuron - and we can observe large-scale brain activity through techniques such as magnetic resonance imaging, but this knowledge barely starts to tell us how the brain works. Something is happening at the intermediate levels of processing that we have yet to begin to understand, but the essence of the brain's information processing function probably lies in these intermediate levels. To get at these middle layers requires that we build models of very large systems of spiking neurons, with structures inspired by the increasingly detailed findings of neuroscience, in order to investigate the emergent behaviours, adaptability and fault-tolerance of those systems.Our goal in this project is to deliver machines of unprecedented cost-effectiveness for this task, and to make them readily accessible to as wide a user base as possible. We will also explore the applicability of the unique architecture that has emerged from the pursuit of this goal to other important application domains.
Publications
Bhattacharya BS
(2014)
Engineering a thalamo-cortico-thalamic circuit on SpiNNaker: a preliminary study toward modeling sleep and wakefulness.
in Frontiers in neural circuits
Bogdan PA
(2021)
Towards a Bio-Inspired Real-Time Neuromorphic Cerebellum.
in Frontiers in cellular neuroscience
Bogdan PA
(2018)
Structural Plasticity on the SpiNNaker Many-Core Neuromorphic System.
in Frontiers in neuroscience
Brown A
(2018)
SpiNNaker: Event-Based Simulation-Quantitative Behavior
in IEEE Transactions on Multi-Scale Computing Systems
Brown A
(2015)
Reliable computation with unreliable computers
in IET Computers & Digital Techniques
Christensen D
(2022)
2022 roadmap on neuromorphic computing and engineering
in Neuromorphic Computing and Engineering
Cope AJ
(2017)
SpineCreator: a Graphical User Interface for the Creation of Layered Neural Models.
in Neuroinformatics
David Lester (Author)
(2011)
SpiNNaker: Distributed Computer Engineering for Neuromorphics
| Title | Talk |
| Description | 'Talk' is an exhibit by Swedish artist Tove Kjellmark built as part of "The Imitation Game" exhibition at Manchester Art Gallery for part of Manchester's role as 2016 European City of Science. 'Talk' is a robotic exhibit that uses SpiNNaker technology. |
| Type Of Art | Artwork |
| Year Produced | 2016 |
| Impact | The exhibition runs from February to June 2016. |
| URL | http://manchesterartgallery.org/exhibitions-and-events/exhibition/the-imitation-game/ |
| Description | A specially-designed passively-parallel computer can support real-time brain models better than a high-end supercomputer. |
| Exploitation Route | The SpiNNaker platform can be used to explore models of brain function, neurorobotics, etc. |
| Sectors | Digital/Communication/Information Technologies (including Software),Education,Electronics,Healthcare |
| URL | http://apt.cs.manchester.ac.uk/projects/SpiNNaker/ |
| Description | We have built the SpiNNaker real-time brain-modelling machine, to be used in the EU ICT Flagship Human Brain Project. Some 90 small SpiNNaker boards are out on loan to labs around the world. The University has also made sales of SpiNNaker machines to academic, government and industry research labs world-wide. |
| First Year Of Impact | 2015 |
| Sector | Digital/Communication/Information Technologies (including Software),Electronics |
| Description | (BIMPC) - Biologically-Inspired Massively-Parallel Computation |
| Amount | € 2,399,761 (EUR) |
| Funding ID | 320689 |
| Organisation | European Commission |
| Sector | Public |
| Country | European Union (EU) |
| Start | 03/2013 |
| End | 02/2018 |
| Description | (HBP SGA1) - Human Brain Project Specific Grant Agreement 1 |
| Amount | € 89,000,000 (EUR) |
| Funding ID | 720270 |
| Organisation | European Commission |
| Sector | Public |
| Country | European Union (EU) |
| Start | 04/2016 |
| End | 03/2018 |
| Description | (HBP SGA2) - Human Brain Project Specific Grant Agreement 2 |
| Amount | € 88,000,000 (EUR) |
| Funding ID | 785907 |
| Organisation | European Commission |
| Sector | Public |
| Country | European Union (EU) |
| Start | 04/2018 |
| End | 03/2020 |
| Description | (HBP SGA3) - Human Brain Project Specific Grant Agreement 3 |
| Amount | € 150,000,000 (EUR) |
| Funding ID | 945539 |
| Organisation | European Commission |
| Sector | Public |
| Country | European Union (EU) |
| Start | 04/2020 |
| End | 03/2023 |
| Description | (HBP) - Human Brain Project |
| Amount | € 1,632,174 (EUR) |
| Funding ID | 284941 |
| Organisation | European Commission |
| Sector | Public |
| Country | European Union (EU) |
| Start | 05/2011 |
| End | 04/2012 |
| Description | (HBP) - The Human Brain Project |
| Amount | € 72,522,840 (EUR) |
| Funding ID | 604102 |
| Organisation | European Commission |
| Sector | Public |
| Country | European Union (EU) |
| Start | 10/2013 |
| End | 02/2017 |
| Description | A R M Ltd |
| Organisation | Arm Limited |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Sector | Private |
| Start Year | 2006 |
| Description | Silistix Ltd |
| Organisation | Silistix Ltd |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Sector | Private |
| Start Year | 2006 |
| Title | Multicast Communications Router |
| Description | This is the key patent for the multicast packet-switch spike packet routing used on SpiNNaker. |
| IP Reference | GB0524126.0 |
| Protection | Patent granted |
| Year Protection Granted | |
| Licensed | Yes |
| Impact | SpiNNaker has been loaned and sold to about 75 research groups around the world. |
| Company Name | Cogniscience Ltd |
| Description | Owns the SpiNNaker IP |
| Impact | Receives royalties on SpiNNaker sales. |